REMUS Roundup – Using an AUV for Passive Detection

Bioluminescence emitted from marine organisms upon mechanical stimulation provides a low-tech method of identifying surface and subsurface vehicles and swimmer tracks. The measurement of bioluminescence in coastal waters has only recently received attention as the platforms and sensors were not scaled for the inherent small-scale nature of nearshore environments.

in a recent study a REMUS AUV outfitted with a bathyphotometer module was used to examine the fluctuations of bioluminescence in relation to the physical dynamics in the working harbour San Diego. The AUV was programmed to repeat a one kilometre track undulating between the surface and an altitude of 2 meters.

The study demonstrated the utility of AUVs in measuring bioluminescence potential and other parameters in ports and harbors. Future uses could be as a means of passive threat detection for enhancing detection of surface and subsurface vehicles and swimmer tracks.